09:15 GMT, November 2, 2009 DELTA JUNCTION, Alaska | Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has contributed $35,000 to Partners for Progress in Delta, Inc., to further the educational nonprofit group's goal of helping to build and sustain Alaska's skilled workforce in electronics and computer systems technology, particularly to support nearby missile defense operations.

John Clay, vice president of Missile Systems for the company's Aerospace Systems sector, presented the donation at the organization's annual Industry Roundtable Oct. 29 in Delta Junction. Funds will be used to develop or enhance the workforce needed for the U.S. Missile Defense Agency's Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) facilities. The Partners for Progress in Delta is an educational consortium that serves as a gateway for learning and training, and provides the region and state with a long-term asset for developing and maintaining Alaska's workforce.

"Our intent is for this donation to provide support to the Partners for Progress in Delta to continue its efforts to offer quality introductory career training and education. These skills will help sustain the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense system deployed at Fort Greely by those who live here who are part of the local economy and are fully qualified for those jobs," Clay said. "We are excited about working with the Partners to reach both secondary and post-secondary adult students who might be interested in these skills. We will work together to help identify the career pathways that make it possible for individuals to be competitive for jobs in these fields."

Clay noted the importance of GMD "as a critical piece of the Ballistic Missile Defense System that protects our nation and its allies, our homes and our families from ballistic missile attacks from rogue nations. The intent of this donation is to provide the foundation for an effective educational training program that qualifies local individuals for weapon system jobs at Fort Greely."

According to Richard Caulfield, president of the board of directors of the Partners, "We are excited about our partnership with Northrop Grumman and the long-term opportunities this provides. As one of the state's regional training centers, this joint effort does exactly what we as an organization are all about, which is building Alaska's workforce to be competitive for the jobs in our region and beyond. Clearly, there is need for these technical skills at Fort Greely."

P.J. Ford Slack, Delta/Greely School District superintendent and a board member of the Partners, further noted the contribution enhances one of the group's major thrusts. "This gift is timely as the state is emphasizing career pathways that make the transition from high school into the workforce and post secondary education effective," she said.